Bertram Allen still in World Cup contention after second competition

DESPITE a single rail down in the first round of this morning’s (Saturday) formidable second leg of the Longines World Cup Final in Las Vegas, Ireland’s Bertram Allen remains in contention for overall victory.

The 19 year-old overnight leader with his 11 year-old mare Molly Malone is now ranked third of the 41 horse-and-rider combinations who started the three-stage championship in Las Vegas yesterday and carries just one penalty point before Sunday’s last leg.

By the halfway stage of this morning’s first round, only one rider had managed to record a clear round, and at the end only six managed to qualify for the jump-off, which was eventually won by Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and Albfuehren’s Paille.

Fourth place went to the USA’s Rich Fellers and the 19 year-old Irish Sport Horse Flexible, who are now joint leaders with Steve Guerdat in the overall standings, on zero penalty points.

Like many of today’s first round competitors, Wexford-born Allen fell foul of a daunting triple combination that came up fast after a turn at the bottom of the arena, and he had the third part down for four faults, thereby missing the jump-off. However, his overall speed gave him seventh place in the competition.

All of this morning’s competitors will have a break before the last round of the World Cup Final takes place in the Nevada venue on Sunday night.

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Irish Sport Horse Flexible (ISH), ridden by the USA’s Rich Fellers, won the FEI World Cup Final at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands in 2012, and his breeding details are as follows:
Flexible (ISH) – 1996 chestnut stallion by Cruising (ISH) out of Flex (ISH), by Safari (TB). Bred by Catherine Doyle, Co. Kildare. Owner: Harry & Mollie Chapman. Rider: Rich Fellers (USA)

Bertram Allen and Molly Malone – finished seventh in tonight’s World Cup competition